Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and a dynamic federation characterized by a complex political landscape, a rich tapestry of cultural identities, and diverse geographical and climatic zones. Since transitioning to democratic rule in 1999, the Federal Republic has been governed under a presidential system with a bicameral legislature, yet it continues to grapple with corruption, security challenges, and periodic electoral controversies. Home to over 250 ethnic groups and more than 500 languages, Nigeria’s cultural heritage ranges from UNESCO-inscribed intangible traditions such as the Gelede performances and Ifa divination to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites that underscore the country’s ancient landscapes and spiritual practices. Covering roughly 923,768 km² in West Africa, Nigeria spans coastal mangrove swamps, tropical rainforests, savanna plateaus, and semi-arid Sahelian fringes; its climate varies from humid monsoon rains in the south to hot, dry harmattan winds in the north.
Political Overview
The Federal Republic of Nigeria operates under the 1999 Constitution as a presidential system, where executive authority resides with a directly elected president serving four-year terms alongside a vice president and appointed cabinet. Legislative power is vested in a bicameral National Assembly comprising a Senate (109 seats) and a House of Representatives (360 seats), both elected from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Since the Fourth Republic’s inception, governance has oscillated between the two major parties the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with recent elections marked by logistical challenges, legal disputes, and incidents of violence and vote-buying. Despite periodic improvements in electoral integrity, Nigeria continues to confront systemic corruption, particularly in the oil sector, insurgencies in the northeast, and tensions in the Niger Delta, prompting calls for stronger institutions and more inclusive policies.
Cultural Heritage and Identity
Nigeria’s cultural identity is rooted in its remarkable ethnic and linguistic diversity: over 250 ethnic groups and more than 500 spoken languages enrich its social fabric. The country actively safeguards its intangible cultural heritage through UNESCO conventions, boasting four major elements inscribed on the Representative List namely, the Gelede oral traditions, Ifa divination, Ijele masquerade performances, and the Argungu fishing festival each reflecting community-based spiritual and social practices. Government policies, such as the 1988 National Cultural Policy, emphasize culture’s role in nation-building, while museums like the John Randle Centre in Lagos celebrate living memory rather than static exhibits, affirming Nigeria’s evolving sense of identity and pride. On the global stage, two of Nigeria’s sites the Sukur Cultural Landscape and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove have earned UNESCO World Heritage status, showcasing terraced iron-age hill communities and centuries-old forest groves revered in Yoruba spirituality.
Geographical Landscape, Area, and Climate
Situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, Nigeria covers approximately 923,768 km², making it the 31st largest country in the world by area. It shares borders with Benin to the west, Niger to the north, Chad and Cameroon to the east, and opens to the Atlantic via its southern mangrove and coastal plains. Prominent physical features include the Niger and Benue River valleys converging at Lokoja the Jos and Adamawa plateaus, and the extensive Niger Delta, which accounts for roughly 70 percent of national oil output. Climatically, Nigeria transitions from a humid tropical monsoon regime in the south where annual rainfall can exceed 4,000 mm in parts of the Delta to tropical savanna in the midlands and hot semi-arid conditions (Sahel) in the north, with dry harmattan winds prevailing from December through March. These varied zones underpin Nigeria’s agricultural diversity but also expose the country to climate change-driven water scarcity and food security challenges, particularly in its arid northern states.
